Course Overview
The Emergency Response Team Leader Skills Maintenance course is designed for experienced emergency response team leaders who have maintained and need to confirm their operational readiness to lead teams effectively in high-risk. Over 3-days of intensive practical training, learners validate skills in emergency team leadership, firefighting, breathing apparatus operation, confined space entry, working at heights and rescue, the capabilities that define an effective and operationally ready team leader.
ERGT Skills Maintenance programs are intended for people who have already completed formal training in a specific area and continue to use those skills regularly in their job.
These programs are designed to help workers validate their existing skills and knowledge, ensuring they remain competent and up to date in the workplace. Because of this, the program does not teach skills from the beginning and is not designed to fill major gaps in knowledge. It is also not suitable as a catch-up or remedial course for people who have not been regularly using these skills.
To get the most value from the program and to meet the required standard participants need to already have a high level of skill and knowledge in the relevant discipline. Learners who cannot demonstrate this baseline may be unable to safely participate and may be required to complete relevant training before attending.
If you are unsure whether your experience is suitable, please contact ERGT before enrolling.
Key details
Learning Objectives
- By the end of this course, learners will have:
- Assess the nature and extent of an emergency, apply dynamic risk management and assume command of the scene.
- Direct the deployment of resources, coordinate rescue of personnel at risk and manage the containment of the emergency.
- Maintain effective team communication, task allocation and command decision-making under realistic pressure conditions.
- Conduct pre-donning checks, operate breathing apparatus in accordance with AS/NZS 1715 and complete post-use maintenance procedures.
- Firefighting
- Apply firefighting techniques and coordinate an emergency response in simulated industrial fire scenarios.
- Work safely at heights using fall prevention and fall-arrest systems and coordinate rescue from heights.
- Enter a confined space safely, maintain atmospheric monitoring, comply with permit requirements and exit safely.
- Perform and direct rescue from heights using appropriate rigging, lowering and retrieval techniques.
- Extricate a casualty from a confined space, minimising further injury to the casualty and to other team members, while maintaining command of the broader scene.
Prior Skills & Knowledge
Training standard prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites from the training standard for this course.
Prior skills and knowledge
While this course does not have formal entry prerequisites, learners are expected to have previously completed training in the relevant skill areas and to hold current certification in those disciplines. This course is not appropriate for learners who are new to emergency response or who have not previously completed foundational training in the relevant areas.
Learners who arrive without prior training in these disciplines may be unable to demonstrate the required performance criteria within the course timeframe. Evidence of prior certification in each of these areas must be provided before course commencement :
Emergency Team Leadership
- PMAWHS311 Lead emergency teams
Breathing Apparatus
- MSMWHS216 Operate breathing apparatus, or
- PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit
Confined Space Entry
- MSMPER205 Enter confined space, or
- RIIWHS202E Enter and work in confined spaces
Height Safety
- RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights
Firefighting and Emergency Response
- PMAWHS213 Undertake fire control and emergency rescue
Confined Space Rescue
- PUASAR025 Undertake confined space rescue
Rescue from Heights
- ERGT Australia Rescue from Heights (RFH)
Evidence of prior certification in each area must be provided before course commencement. Learners who have not previously completed training in one or more of these disciplines should contact ERGT Australia to discuss the appropriate accredited courses before enrolling in Emergency Response Skills Maintenance.
Alternatively, prior completion of an ERGT Australia-approved skills maintenance course in the relevant areas is accepted in lieu of the above units.
What to expect
ERGT Australia's Emergency Response Team Leader Skills Maintenance course is delivered across three full days at a purpose-built safety training facility. The course is intentionally demanding in both its technical and leadership scope, reflecting the performance expectations placed on active emergency response team leaders. Each day combines classroom review of leadership responsibilities with substantial practical time across all seven disciplines, and learners should expect to spend significant portions of each day in PPE, operating equipment in realistic simulation environments while fulfilling command responsibilities.
The practical components are physically and cognitively demanding. Learners will lead and participate in breathing apparatus operations, confined space entry, height safety, and live-fire and rescue scenarios. Facilitators are experienced emergency response practitioners who will observe, assess, and debrief each scenario from both a technical and leadership perspective.
Assessment is ongoing and performance-based, covering both individual technical skills and command and coordination effectiveness. Learners who do not demonstrate the required performance criteria in any discipline may need to repeat that component before a Certificate of Currency can be issued.
Learner Support
ERGT Australia is committed to providing a training environment where every learner can engage fully and safely. The following support is available across these areas.
Physical Support
Learners with an injury, physical limitation, or health condition that may affect their ability to participate in practical exercises are encouraged to declare this at registration. ERGT Australia will work with you to identify reasonable adjustments where possible. Some practical tasks, including breathing apparatus use, confined space entry, and working at heights have non-negotiable safety requirements that cannot be modified; where this is the case, ERGT Australia will advise you clearly before the course begins. No medical certificate is required, but a health questionnaire and declaration of fitness must be completed at registration.
Psychological Support
Learners who are concerned about any of the psychological demands described above, including confined space entry, heights work, participation in live-fire scenarios, or the added pressure of maintaining leadership composure under realistic emergency conditions, are encouraged to contact ERGT Australia before enrolment. Our facilitators are experienced in supporting learners through challenging training environments, and we can discuss your concerns and explore options before the course commences. During the course, learners may speak with their facilitator at any time if they are finding a particular activity distressing. No learner will be required to continue an activity that poses a genuine risk to their psychological safety.
Cognitive Support
This course covers seven disciplines over three days, combining technical skills refreshers with the coordination and decision-making demands of the team leader role. Learners with prior operational leadership experience will consolidate their knowledge more effectively than those approaching command responsibilities fresh. To support learning across the full scope of the course, ERGT Australia delivers content progressively, establishing leadership frameworks and command communication principles early, then applying them incrementally across scenarios of increasing complexity. Facilitators introduce structured decision-making models before live exercises and conduct post-scenario debriefs to reinforce constructive lessons and address any areas where command and technical performance can be strengthened. Learners who would benefit from additional time to review a particular skill, procedure, or leadership approach are encouraged to speak with their facilitator.
Related courses
LET
- Perth Safety Training Centre
HUET
- Perth Safety Training Centre
WSAH
- Perth Safety Training Centre
VERT
UCSR
- Perth Safety Training Centre
FLT
- Perth Safety Training Centre
